Plastic Surgery

Plastic Surgery

Is perfection really an obtainable goal? In the world we live in today many believe plastic surgery is a way to achieve this goal. Plastic surgery is a subject that almost everybody is divided on. Being able to alter your appearance concerns among some Americans. Some believe you are messing with faith, others believe you have the right to do what you want. Plastic Surgery is not evil or bad, when you are properly informed and understand that getting a procedure can have a lasting effect on your life forever. Some of the effects are change in appearance, self-esteem, BDS, and health problems.

Plastic surgery is a procedure that restores or improves the appearance of the body's structure. The name plastic surgery comes from the Greek word plasticos, which means to shape or mold (Haiken 1). Corrective surgery has been performed for millions of years. Cosmetic surgeries can be traced back from hundreds of years. For example traced to India, hundreds of years B.C. where people who were brick layers tried to construct noses of those who had then cut off as punishment for adultery (Haiken 1). Nose reconstruction was a major issue due to the disease syphilis during the sixteenth century (Gilman 11). Also during the sixteenth century in Italy, Gasparo Tagliocozzi created and perfected techniques to repair facial scars from duels (Haiken 2). Corrective surgery used to be refused if wasn't needed at the turn of the twentieth century (Haiken 2). Today cosmetic surgery is preformed regularly (Haiken 2). The culture that really produced the cosmetic surgery was the visual culture of the twentieth century in the United States (Haiken 2). When the United States became urban wrinkles were seen as problems instead of accepted, which help plastic surgery become so popular (Haiken 2).Cosmetic surgery is one of the fastest growing medical practices in the world (Haiken 2). Aesthetic surgery has a major role in modern medicine and is important to modern culture also (Gilman xxi).

Today there is an endless amount of procedures people can choose from. They range from botox injections, liposuction, and face lifts. Botox injections are injections into the skin that temporarily paralyze muscles to prevent expression lines (Swan 3). Chemical peels restore wrinkled, blemished skin by using a chemical solution to peel away the skin's top layers (Swan 3). Collagen injections add volume to surfaces under the skin to fill in creases (Swan 3). These less invasive surgeries have become popular among men and women in their 20's, 30's, and 40's reports the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (Swan 3). They are growing in popularity due to the fact they are more affordable, which ables more Americans to get these procedures (Swan 2).

Young women are getting plastic surgery at a high rate. Many young women see cosmetic surgery as a quick fix. In 200l alone about 220,000 women had breast augmentation (Davis 1). In some cases young girls were getting breast implants as gifts for graduation (Davis 1). Also in 2003 almost 336,000 teens had some form of cosmetic surgery (Davis 1). Their are side effects that can occur with breast augmentation surgery. " I wish I had never done it, " Long a breast implant patient said after her procedure, which left her unable to lift her arms and disabled for a year (Davis1). Long also suffered from systemic silicone poising from shells around saline implants, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome (Davis 1). Many women suffer from these same symptoms after having breast augmentation also.

Not only are women getting plastic surgery, but men also. Throughout the sixties surgeons were focused on women (Haiken 4). Men were rarely considered getting surgery due to certain stereotypes (Haiken 4). Today plastic surgery isn't considered for just women anymore (Rossi 1). Attitudes have changed over time on issues thought only for women (Kennard 1). Which is the cause for more men feeling comfortable with getting cosmetic surgery. The top five procedures for men to get are nose reshaping, eyelid surgery, liposuction, hair transplantation and facelifts (Kennard 1). Micheal G. Leadbetter, a surgeon with the Plastic Surgery Group in Cincinnati, Ohio says "More men are seeking these procedures because of the emphasis on looking as good as you feel and remaining youthful in the competitive work place" (Rossi 1). More men feel the need to look young during their 40's, 50's, and 60's (Kennard 1).

There are many factors that can persuade young men and women to get plastic surgery. One reason could involve their childhood experience. For example, at adolescence a child may have been picked on or tormented on how they looked when they were younger. They could of also been abused or neglected when they were younger This can have a lasting impression on their minds which carries over into adulthood. When they get older they feel the need to change their appearance due to lack of self-esteem.

Society also plays a role in people deciding on plastic surgery. When young women pick up magazines and watch TV they are less likely to see a regular person, but an image of false beauty. Reality shows like the "Swan" or "Extreme Makeover" make plastic surgery look like a simple and quick procedure (Davis 3). Everywhere you look you see a model selling or advertising something. Many young girls believe that in order to make it in life you have to be beautiful. America judges by appearances (Gilman 24). Which can lead to a poor body image. Self-esteem also plays on how attractive an individual may feel. Plastic surgery helps change a person's perception of themselves for better or worse.

Older women also use plastic surgery to look and feel younger. Males also suffer from society's craze with looking good ,making them feel the need to look young and healthy (Rossi 1). Marilyn Mercer says " We put such a premium on youth today that a more youthful appearance may be necessary for survival" (Haiken 4). Others believe in the increasing youth oriented culture (Rossi 1). Due to the stress of looking younger it has become more competitive in the work place. The older a person gets the more pressure they feel to stay ahead in their careers.

Having plastic surgery can effect a person in many ways. The first thing is your appearance. A new found look can instill confidence many people lack. Some see plastic surgery as a way of healing from years of physical or mental abuse. Others use it for a good cosmetic reason, such as drastic weight loss. Women believe physical attractiveness affects their lives (Gilman 33). Looking good is a big deal in today's society. Low self-esteem can cause obsessive